Diossa collects advisers

CENTRAL FALLS — Mayor-elect James Diossa is marshalling expertise from across the state to advise him on a variety of issues as he prepares to take the helm of the state’s smallest and poorest city.
Dozens of volunteers from various walks of life have joined an “advisory council” and have been divided up into five committees to assist the new mayor with various aspects of city life. They are expected to report their advice to Diossa 100 days into his new term.
Patricia Martinez, Executive Director for the Center for Family Support and Student Development for Central Falls Public Schools and former Director of Progreso Latino and the Department of Children, Youth and Families will co-chair the advisory council, along with Dr. Pablo Rodriguez, OBGYN, Brown University medical school professor and Latino Public Radio founder, and state Sen. Elizabeth Crowley.
“I am grateful that many volunteers have stepped forward to consider our great city’s daunting challenges and to work hard in finding solutions together,” Diossa said. “The central tasks facing us – building the economy, improving our schools, reducing crime, increasing the quality of life – all require relationships and networks beyond the borders of our city. These individuals represent varying viewpoints and diverse perspectives but they share one thing in common – they know that Central Falls must succeed. With their help, we will.”
The council will meet twice a month to solicit input from the community on the challenges and opportunities facing the city, explore olicies and strategies for moving Central Falls forward and create recommendations and action-items for Diossa.
The advisory council will be divided into the following committees: